Headaches can range from a nuisance to just plain miserable. In some circumstances, headaches can be a sign of a various serious medical problem. When they are sudden and extremely severe, you should seek immediate medical attention. Chronic or recurring headaches are a common misery. They can keep you from enjoying your life. There are many potential causes to that pain in your head. Most people have heard of migraine headaches for example. Within the migraine family, there are numerous different types (common, classic, atypical, ocular, etc.). There are many different families in the headache area. You may be familiar with some of these as well. For example you may have heard of muscular headaches, tension headaches, stress headaches, cluster headaches, etc.Sinus headaches are another type of head pain that you may suffer with.
Sinus headaches may present as pain in your forehead, between your eyes, in your check bones or even what seems to be pain from your upper teeth. Sinus headaches can be caused from inflammation or swelling of the tissue that lines the sinus cavities (hollow places in the bones of your face and head). This swelling or inflammation may be due to allergies, infection, or irritating particles in the air. Sinus headaches can result from misaligned bones (such as a deviated septum or a bone spur on the septum). This could begin after an automobile accident or other trauma to your nose or face. Polyps (grape like extra growths of tissue) may also be involved in sinus headaches.
Sinus headaches are often responsive to medications that block the inflammation or swelling of the sinus tissue. Decongestants are also often helpful in sinus headaches (but are not safe for all to take, so check with your doctor). Sometimes saline nasal irrigation (washing the nose out with salt water) can alleviate a sinus headache.
If you think your headaches are sinus related, you should discuss this with your doctor. A board certified allergist will have the expertise you need to investigate a possible sinus origin to your headaches. The Texas Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Society (TAAIS) is a group of more than 220 board-certified Allergists/Immunologists in Texas.
An Allergist/Immunologist is a physician, usually an Internist or Pediatrician, who has had special training and experience in the field of Allergy and Immunology and who is considered to be an expert in the diagnosis and management of immune system disorders such as asthma, allergic rhinitis (hayfever), eczema, urticaria (hives), drug reactions, food allergies, immune deficiencies, and all general aspects of anaphylaxis.
A Board Certified Allergist/Immunologist is a physician who has passed the certifying examination of the American Board of Allergy and Immunology. A list of Board Certified Allergists can be found at http://www.taais.org/membershipdirectory.html. Those with “ABAI” under Board Certification are Board Certified Allergists/Immunologists.